GNASSM EMPOWERS WOMEN IN MINING SECTOR IN GHANA

GNASSM EMPOWERS WOMEN IN MINING SECTOR IN GHANA

The *Ghana National Association of Small Scale Mining (GNASSM)*, knowing the potential and role of women in the mining sector is working tirelessly to promote the active role of women in the mining industry especially Small Scale Mining in the country.

GNASSM is therefore pushing harder to put more women at the forefront of mining in Ghana.

The Association's National Women's Organizer, *Mrs. Victoria Adubea*, during a tour to empower women at *Ntobronso in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region* elaborated that, GNASSM will not relent on its efforts to making small scale mining lucrative in the country.

In 2019, the government of Ghana announced that mining had generated $3.3 billion through exports.

GNASSM's Women Organiser, Victoria Adubea (Mrs.) says the Association is worried that, “If exports were making mining a major earner of forex for the country, why weren’t more women participating in and benefiting from the industry,”.

 After all, women represent 51 per cent of the country's population, but only 10 per cent own a concession or are in mining exploration, this according to the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners is worrying and appalling.

GNASSM believes Women are not aware of the opportunities or are afraid or feel culturally inferior to the men largely benefiting from the industry. Because this GNASSM is working hard to address gender disparities in the mining sector by empowering more women.

Therefore GNASSM incollaboratoon with an NGO called *Solidaridad Western Africa* as part of their motive to empower women in the mining business donated items such as boots, raincoats, goggles, handgloves etc. to women in Ntobronso who are into mining to boost their moral and encourage more women to engage in mining activities to bridge the long existing gap between men and women in the industry.

Delivering the aforementioned items to the women, Mrs. Victoria Adubea revealed to them that, GNASSM wants to  empower women and advance their careers in mining, including equipping them with knowledge. 

She said GNASSM has helped strengthen the awareness of mining opportunities and the skills of more people especially women in the business. She added that their engagement is about positioning women to contribute meaningfully to the country’s economy and fairly benefit from that economy.

On his part, *Mr. Abdul Rauf Suleman-the Programs Officer for Solidaridad West Africa* said his outfit will also at all course do their best  support GNASSM to improve women and develop their skills to suit the mining industry and keep educating them on the need to involve themselves in it.

He said they will work hand-in-hamd with GNASSM to make mining  attractive to women to join and take up senior positions in the mining industry.

To further encourage women to seize opportunities in the sector, the *Assistant Atwima Mponua District Mining Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Bani* said his team is also determined to map gender representation across the district's mining value chain. “This will enable the District and the country as a whole to identify and fill gender gaps between males and females in the sector and increase the number of credible local and international investors into mining to benefit women,” says Emmanuel Bani.

Finally, the beneficiaries mostly appreciated GNASSM and Solidaridad 's donation to them and also called to Government to follow suit.